Progression of degrees.

I'm curious if it's the norm to stay in the same field as you acquire your degrees (i.e. bacherlor's in field x, master's in field x, etc.) or if you can shake it up and get whatever you want after you get your bachelor's? Could you potentially be looked on as unfocused?

I would think if anything it would make you a more experienced or well-rounded student if all your studies weren't necessarily in the same discipline. Any opinions? I'm fascinated with several differenet fields and would like to study as much as I can afford to.

In my case I went from a BS in accounting to an MBA student. Closely related in my opinion. I have thought about diversifying my degrees to match my interests, but at the same time I also want an education that sets me up as a subject matter expert, plus I needed the hours to sit for the CPA exam, and decided that if I needed the hours an MBA would probably give me the most bang for my buck.

I have seen many people diversify their degrees, but to be honest, if you are pursuing a specific field of knowledge, in my opinion you are best to stay within the same field. I have built upon my knowledge during my MBA courses, which have given me a more thorough understanding of my given educational pursuits.

On a side note, if I had enough time I would also pursue a masters in Astronomy and a masters in History , lol, I am somewhat glad I do not have the time or the money, pursuing an MBA and being a full time active duty soldier is more than enough on my plate for now.

GW University is a prestigious and well regarded school. Established in the heart of the nation's capital in 1821, GW provides innovative programs in more than 200 fields of study, including graduate certificate, master's and doctoral programs. Under the guidance of a world-renowned faculty, you will explore both theory and practice in courses that prepare you to meet the needs of an increasingly complex society.

Accountants and auditors help to ensure that firms are run efficiently, public records kept accurately, and taxes paid properly and on time. They analyze and communicate financial information for various entities such as companies, individual clients, and Federal, State, and local governments. Beyond carrying out the fundamental tasks of the occupation—providing information to clients by preparing, analyzing, and verifying financial documents—many accountants also offer budget analysis, financial and investment planning, information technology consulting, and limited legal services.
Specific job duties vary widely among the four major fields of accounting and auditing: public accounting, management accounting, government accounting, and internal auditing.

•Most jobs require at least a bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field.
•Job opportunities should be favorable; those who have earned professional recognition through certification or licensure, especially a CPA, should enjoy the best prospects.
•Much-faster-than-average employment growth will result from an increase in the number of businesses, changing financial laws and regulations, and greater scrutiny of company finances.

I'm going to agree with William. I sought a degree in English to augment my technical background. Every management position requires the ability to communicate.

This actually worked against me as technical training and/or certifications still do not replace technical degrees. So I ended up pursuing other degrees that coincide more to my profession.

As for pursuing higher degrees I would say that they need to be similar unless you are changing fields. You might also get by with a broad based degree (MBA ), especially if it has a concentration.

I don't think pursuing different fields makes you look unfocused, however it will work against the corporate experience in your resume. For instance, the years I spent obtaining the BA in English could be viewed as down years in a technical field and not count as experience. I was able to mitigate this by working full time while attending school.

As for several different fields. Like you folks I have several interests and am pursuing masters in multiple fields, one for personal interests and the other for employment.

My only advice is to realize that degrees are long term investments and goals so choose well.

What were you hoping to get a Master's Degree in? I would think some diversity is okay, especially if it will help you excel in your career...Such as a BS in Accounting and Finance and then an MS in Project Management.

I'm pursuing a BA in Psychology (with emphasis on Social Psychology ) and then hope to move onto a MS in Management or Human Resource Management . It may not seem like they relate, but I see the BA as a good foundation for graduate studies in that particular field.

What does everyone else think?

Rhonda

Argosy University

Argosy University

Argosy offers online Bachelor's, Master's and Doctorate in Business Administration, psychology, and HR-related degrees, with many specialty degrees, including organizational psychology, exercise psychology, HR, public administration, higher education administration, and many more.

Argosy also offers the same degrees and more from 19 locations across the U.S., and is a leader in the distance/online education field.

Argosy has one of the largest graduate student communities in the nation, and is regionally accredited, the most widely recognized accreditation.

Psychologists study mental processes and human behavior by observing, interpreting, and recording how people and animals relate to one another and the environment. To do this, psychologists often look for patterns that will help them understand and predict behavior using scientific methods, principles, or procedures to test their ideas. Through such research studies, psychologists have learned much that can help increase understanding between individuals, groups, organizations, institutions, nations, and cultures.

•Job opportunities are naturally best for individuals with higher degrees. Individuals with a doctoral degree are highly sought after, especially ones who holds degrees in a particularly in-demand subfield, such as health; those with a master’s degree will have good prospects in the corporate environment; bachelor’s degree holders will have limited prospects due to steep competition.•Employment growth will vary by specialty; for example, clinical, counseling, and school psychologists will have 11% growth; industrial-organizational psychologists will have 26% growth; and 14% growth is expected for all other fields of psychology.

In some areas of study, such as the physical sciences, pursuing a graduate degree requires an undergrad in the same field of study. As an example, in my original field of chemistry, when I got my masters, a bachelors in chemistry or biochemistry was a prerequisite. Someone with a degree in sociology would not have been accepted into the program.

Having said that, I personally know many people who got a grad degree in something far afield from their undergrad. Here in Seattle, with the downturns in the dot com and aerospace industries, from which we are only now recovering, there were many aerospace engineers who went back to school and got a computer science masters. I myself have a MSc from the early 1980's, and went on to get a MBA in 2000.

If you are pursuing education for fun or for its own sake, mixing areas of study is wonderful. If you are doing it with an eye towards job or career training, it is probably best to have related areas of study, unless you are training for a career change.

GW University is a prestigious and well regarded school. Established in the heart of the nation's capital in 1821, GW provides innovative programs in more than 200 fields of study, including graduate certificate, master's and doctoral programs. Under the guidance of a world-renowned faculty, you will explore both theory and practice in courses that prepare you to meet the needs of an increasingly complex society.

Information Technology (IT) has become an integral part of modern life. Among its most important functions are the efficient transmission of information and the storage and analysis of information. The workers described below all help individuals and organizations share and store information through computer networks and systems, the Internet, and computer databases.Network architects or network engineers are the designers of computer networks. Computer systems analysts use IT tools to help enterprises of all sizes achieve their goals. They may design and develop new computer systems by choosing and configuring hardware and software, or they may devise ways to apply existing systems' resources to additional tasks. Computer software engineers design and develop software. They apply the theories and principles of computer science and mathematical analysis to create, test, and evaluate the software applications and systems that make computers work.
IT Degrees also incorporates Web Development, Web Design, Computer Security, Programming, Technology Management, and Information Systems Management.

•Employment is projected to increase much faster than the average for all occupations. Job prospects are expected to be excellent.

Engineers apply the principles of science and mathematics to develop economical solutions to technical problems. Their work is the link between scientific discoveries and the commercial applications that meet societal and consumer needs.
Many engineers develop new products. During the process, they consider several factors. For example, in developing an industrial robot, engineers specify the functional requirements precisely; design and test the robot's components; integrate the components to produce the final design; and evaluate the design's overall effectiveness, cost, reliability, and safety.
In addition to their involvement in design and development, many engineers work in testing, production, or maintenance. These engineers supervise production in factories, determine the causes of a component’s failure, and test manufactured products to maintain quality. They also estimate the time and cost required to complete projects.

•Starting salaries are among the highest of all college graduates.
•Employment is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations, although growth will vary by specialty; overall job opportunities for engineers are expected to be good.
•A bachelor's degree in engineering is required for most entry-level jobs, but some positions may require a graduate degree.

GW University is a prestigious and well regarded school. Established in the heart of the nation's capital in 1821, GW provides innovative programs in more than 200 fields of study, including graduate certificate, master's and doctoral programs. Under the guidance of a world-renowned faculty, you will explore both theory and practice in courses that prepare you to meet the needs of an increasingly complex society.

So from what you're saying if a person has graduated with an Associates degree it's better to list the Bachelor and Masters and skip listing the Associates == is that correct? I thought people get in trouble if they don't list down all thier credentials.

Re: Progression of degrees.

Originally posted by pacificamark I'm curious if it's the norm to stay in the same field as you acquire your degrees (i.e. bacherlor's in field x, master's in field x, etc.) or if you can shake it up and get whatever you want after you get your bachelor's? Could you potentially be looked on as unfocused?

I would think if anything it would make you a more experienced or well-rounded student if all your studies weren't necessarily in the same discipline. Any opinions? I'm fascinated with several differenet fields and would like to study as much as I can afford to.

I have a BA in History , my Masters is in Public Administration , and I am pursuing my PhD in Management. I have never had any trouble. If anything, I have been found to be well-rounded.

Off topic: I see that you are atending AMU. Have they received rgional accreditation yet?

Originally posted by potpourri So from what you're saying if a person has graduated with an Associates degree it's better to list the Bachelor and Masters and skip listing the Associates == is that correct? I thought people get in trouble if they don't list down all thier credentials.

There is nothing at all wrong with listing an associates degree. I have filled out certain forms where there is space only for one undergraduate degree--in those cases I list only the bachelors. In all other cases, I list the A.A. as well.

Lots to think about.

I've been on the fence for months and I still don't think I've decided what to do even though I'm just starting my BA in Criminal Justice Forensics. I love IT equally as well as I've been futzing with computers since the late 70s.

I was thinking of a master's in IT or Public Administration . I asked since I have a friend who has their BA in Music and yet works for a major dot com as a web site UI designer and is being recruited by two other major dot coms. So, clearly, at least in my friend's field, degree major does not matter. My friend has no certificates or any other kind of classroom experience in computers.

As far as listing degrees on a resume I will always put my lowly AA on it as I'm proud of my 4.0 GPA. I earned the degree last year and since I'm almost 40 it shows that I'm still a good study.

As for the AMU accreditation question I believe they are being visited in January or February for their second evaluation. So hopefully RA is coming. But they have so many degrees to choose from at all levels, I don't mind getting my master's with them.

Criminal Justice Degrees

Criminal Justice Degrees

Police and detectives pursue and apprehend individuals who break the law and then issue citations or give warnings. Most police officers patrol their jurisdictions and investigate any suspicious activity they notice. They also respond to calls from individuals. Detectives, who often are called agents or special agents, perform investigative duties such as gathering facts and collecting evidence. The daily activities of police and detectives vary with their occupational specialty—such as police officer, game warden, or detective—and whether they are working for a local, State, or Federal agency. Duties also differ substantially among various Federal agencies, which enforce different aspects of the law. Regardless of job duties or location, police officers and detectives at all levels must write reports and maintain meticulous records that will be needed if they testify in court.

Parole officers perform many of the same duties that probation officers perform. The difference is that parole officers supervise offenders who have been released from prison, whereas probation officers work with those who are sentenced to probation instead of prison. Pretrial services officers conduct pretrial investigations, the findings of which help determine whether suspects should be released before their trial. In most jurisdictions, probation is a county function and parole is a State function.

•Job opportunities are expected to be excellent.
•Employment growth, which is projected to be faster-than-average, is dependent on government funding.
•For parole or probation officers, a bachelor's degree in social work, criminal justice, psychology, or a related field is usually required.

I have seved on many hiring committees and I have never seen an instance where having degrees on different disciplines was seen as a disadvantage. At the colleges and unviersities where I worked, gradudate schools of business, law and medicine actively recruited those who were getting bachelors degrees in liberal arts, humanities, foreign languages and social sciences (psychology , sociology , history , etc.).

Psychologists study mental processes and human behavior by observing, interpreting, and recording how people and animals relate to one another and the environment. To do this, psychologists often look for patterns that will help them understand and predict behavior using scientific methods, principles, or procedures to test their ideas. Through such research studies, psychologists have learned much that can help increase understanding between individuals, groups, organizations, institutions, nations, and cultures.

•Job opportunities are naturally best for individuals with higher degrees. Individuals with a doctoral degree are highly sought after, especially ones who holds degrees in a particularly in-demand subfield, such as health; those with a master’s degree will have good prospects in the corporate environment; bachelor’s degree holders will have limited prospects due to steep competition.•Employment growth will vary by specialty; for example, clinical, counseling, and school psychologists will have 11% growth; industrial-organizational psychologists will have 26% growth; and 14% growth is expected for all other fields of psychology.

Colorado State University offers accredited Bachelor completion and Master programs in a variety of fields, including business management, organizational leadership, a Masters in Teaching and Learning, and a BS in Social Sciences (degree completion)

The school is regionally accredited, the most widely recognized accreditation.